Agitator for molten babbitt and the like



Mar. 5, 1929. s. SMITH 1,703,966

AGITATOR FOR MOLTEN BABBITT AND THE LIKE I Filed Dec. 30, 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 1 "IIIII 4m MM Mar, 5, R929. 5. SMITH 1,703,966

AGITATOR FOR MOL'IEN BABBITT AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 50, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet Mar.

8. SMITH AGITATOR FOR MOLTEN BABBITT AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 30, 192'? 5Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR MW a ATT RNEYs f Patented Mar. 5, 1929.

.UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

sALHM SMITH, or mrrnorr, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB 520 FEDERAL MOGUL CORPORA-TION, or nnrnorr, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION or MICHIGAN.

AGITA' IOR FOR MOLTEN BABBITT AND. THE LIKE.

Application filed December'30, 1927. Serial No. 243,554.

This invention relates to apparatus for effecting the mechanicalagitation of molten Babbitt metal or similar material, in order toinsure the greatest-possible degree of unis formity in the mixtureasremoved by ladlin'g or similar steps in themanufacturing opera.- tion,and has for its obiectan improved 01 ganization of parts by means ofwhich the molten mass, composed of variant metal components of diverserelative weight, may be kept substantially uniform from top to hottomand so that the heavier components, such as copper, will not tend tosettle near the bot- -tom of the melting vat, leaving "'an unduly lightand not thoroughly commingled mixture near the top from which naturallythe successive ladles full are manually removed by dipping. My inventionalso involves the provision of convenient means for lifting or swingingthe agitating member out of the vat,

when for any reason more unobstructed ac-.

cessthereto is desired, without involving the complete and time-wastingdisassemblage of the parts,'- as well as the provision of means forprotecting this agitating member from injury, due to the carelessthrowing into the vat of additional ingots of the various metals ofwhich the molten mixture is composed.

In the drawings: A

Figure 1 is a front elevational viewof my improved mechanism shown inrelation to the melting vat and to the preferred form of connection to asource of power.

Figure'2 is a side elevational view partly in section, and showing indotted lines the raised or swung-up position of the agitating mechanismrelatively to the Vat.

. Figure 3 is a plan view from above.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail, taken along the line 4:-4: of Figure 2and looking in the direction of the arrows there shown.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the preferred form of guard member, betweenwhose parts the agitating member is held in suitable position. we

12 represents a vat or melting pot, positioned subjacently of asupporting frame 13,

the upwardly extending portion of which is otherwise' actuatingengagement over the active pulley 15, when for any reason it is desiredto temporarily halt the activity of the mechanism here described. Ofcourse any desired or equivalent means. for effecting the rotativemovement of the shaft 14' could be substituted for this belt-drivenmeans.

The right-hand end of the shaft 14, viewed from the position shown inFigure 1, is sur-.

- rounded bythesleeve projection 16' of a fixed housing, in which ispositioned, to rotate- "with the shaft 14, the bevel gear 17, whoseteeth mesh with those of' the companion gear 18 which is mounted uponthe vertical shaft- 19, which latter is rotatably held in positionzv bythe lower projection or sleeve 20 of the housing 16, This shaft 19 alsoengages rotatably in a box-or housing; 21, the rearend,

of which is pivoted, as at 22, in the frame or,

base 23, ofwhich the already mentioned supporting bracket 13' isstructurally a part.

The shaft '19'continues below this housing to, a

point near the bottom of the vat or melting pot 12, and carries on itslower end the propeller or agitating blades 24, whose induced rotativemovement in the mass of molten metal contained within the vat acts tokeep in a state of agitation the fluid components of this mass andconstantly disturb for remingling with the lighter components whosetendency is to rise to the top of the molten mass, such heaviercomponent as copper, which would otherwisesink to the bottom of the vat.Access to the molten contents of the -vat when the agitating mechanismis in the full-line position shown in Figure 2 may be had by ladling orany'other desired method of removal.

When for any reason it is desirable to clear the vat of this agitatingmechanism; this may be easily effected without disassemblage of theparts by swinging the whole vertical structure, of which the shaft 19 isthe centralfeature, upwardly about the pivotf22 as a center, bringing itto the dotted line position shown in Figure 2, though I do not desire tobe considered to restricting myself to the constructionhere shown,since, at the expenseof the convenience thus afforded, this pivotalarrangement could be omitted in favor of a solid or permanent supportingmeans for the pivot 19. If such swinging construction is indulged in, itwill of course be obvious that rovision mustbe made for the release ofthe shaft 14 and its associated parts from its normal support in the topof the bracket 13.

.It is also desirable to effect the secure holding down of the hingedsupport for the shaft 14 so that it will be in permanently reliablevertical position by some such means as the pin 25, extending throughthe supporting arm or shell 21 and into asuit-able portion of theframework 23, this being withdrawn from its interlocking position whenthe described upward swing of the parts appurtenant the shaft 19is'desired. 7

While notindispensable to the operation of the mechanism thus fardescribed, the pro- 1 tive engagement through it of the bladecarryingshaft 19 and the depending skirting 32 on either side of the line ofthis indentation is similarly apertured lengthwise, in order to permitthe swing through this space of the shaft 19 when it is moved to thedotted line position shown in Figure 2'. That portion of the skirtingdiametrically opposite from this lengthwise apertured part which, ifpresent, would be shown in the left foreground of perspective Figure 5is largely cut away, however, in order to give as free access aspossible of the molten metal about the agitator blades. The dependingskirtings 32 being located facing the front of the device and of the vator pot 12 from which direction the added metal ingotsare usuallydeposited in the vat, their protective function proves in practice to beample.

lVhat I claim is: I

1:.Means for agitating molten babbitt and the like, having, incombination with a supporting frame adapted to be positioned over theopen top of a container, a pivotally connected bracket supported:therefrom, said bracket having its end formed as a bearing of verticalaxiality when the bracket is in lowered position, a shaft rotatablysupported intermediate its ends "by said bearing portion of saidbracket, an agitating blade carried on the lower end of the shaft, andmeans carried on *he'upper end ofthe shaft whereby it have rotativeactuation transmitted to it from an external power source.

2. In combination with a supporting frame, avertically. movablebracketmember pivotally supported thereby, a rotatable shaft normallysupported in vertical position intermediate its ends by said bracketmember, and adapted to be swung with it to a position of axial obliquitythereover, an. agitating blade carried by the lower end of saidrotatable shaft in position to act upon a fluid mass into which theshaft end is lowered, and means operatively engaging the upper end ofsaid shaft for transmitting rotative actuation thereto from an externalpower source.

3. In combination with a supporting frame, a vertically movable brackethingedly supported thereby, a shaft provided with an agitatingprojection on its lower end, rotatably journaled therein intermediateits ends in normally vertical position, a guard member for the agitatinglower end portion of the shaft supported from said movable bracket, andmeans for imparting actuation to said shaft when in operative verticalposition relatively to a subjacent fluid mass into which the lower endof said. shaft normally extends.

4. The combination, with a bracket member pivotally supported inposition for swinging in a vertical plane, of a shaft rotatablyjournaled in said bracket and extending appreciably on either sidethereof, said shaft being adapted to swing with said bracket out of itsnormally vertical position, an agitating member carried on the lower endof said shaft, and means operatively engageable with the top end of saidshaft whereby it may be rotatively actuated from an external powersource.

5. In combination with a fixed baseportion and a vertically swingingbracket member supported thereby, a shaft provided with an agitatingblade. on its'lower end and'having its intermediate portion,'rotatablyjournaled in said bracket member, means supported upon said bracketwhereby said shaft is rotatively actuated from an external power source,and means for shielding the blade on the lower end of said shaft againstthe impact of foreign articles, though out of interfering position asregards the operative movement thereof.

tion.

SALEM SMITH.

In testimony whereof sign this specifica-

